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Dire Earth Cycle #0.5
The Dire Earth
Jason M. Hough goes back to the beginning with this eBook exclusive novella, the prequel to the New York Times bestseller The Darwin Elevator. An indispensable introduction to a trilogy wrought with action, imagination, and mystery, The Dire Earth is sure to thrill new readers and diehard fans alike.
In the middle of the twenty-third century, an inexplicable disease engulfs the globe, leaving a trail of madness and savagery in its wake. Dutch air force pilot Skyler Luiken discovers he is immune to the disease when he returns from a mission to find the world in chaos, but he soon realizes that he’s not the only one to have endured the apocalypse. Elsewhere, the roguish Skadz, the cunning Nigel, and the tough-as-nails Samantha each make their way toward the last remaining bastion of sanity: Darwin, Australia, home to a mysterious alien artifact that may hold the key to the survival of the human race.
In the middle of the twenty-third century, an inexplicable disease engulfs the globe, leaving a trail of madness and savagery in its wake. Dutch air force pilot Skyler Luiken discovers he is immune to the disease when he returns from a mission to find the world in chaos, but he soon realizes that he’s not the only one to have endured the apocalypse. Elsewhere, the roguish Skadz, the cunning Nigel, and the tough-as-nails Samantha each make their way toward the last remaining bastion of sanity: Darwin, Australia, home to a mysterious alien artifact that may hold the key to the survival of the human race.
124 pages, ebook
First published November 18, 2014
About the author
Jason M. Hough
25 books558 followersJason M. Hough (pronounced 'Huff') is the New York Times bestselling author of The Dire Earth Cycle and the near-future spy thriller Zero World. In a former life he was a 3D artist, animator, and game designer (Metal Fatigue, Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction, and many others). He has also worked in the fields of high-performance cluster computing and machine learning.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
The Darwin Elevator began life in 2008 as a project for National Novel Writing Month. The book released on July 30th, 2013 and reached the New York Times Bestseller list the following week. Darwin was Jason’s first published fiction. The subsequent books in that trilogy were released that same summer, along with a prequel novella, The Dire Earth, in 2014.
Jason's latest novel, Zero World, released on August 18th, 2015 from Del Rey Spectra (US) and Titan Books (AUS/NZ). Publishers Weekly called it “a thrilling action rampage that confirms Hough as an important new voice in genre fiction.”
He lives near Seattle, Washington with his wife, two young sons, and a dog named Missbuster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 6, 2015
This novella is an introduction/prequel to Hough's 'Darwin Elevator,' which I haven't read. in it, we meet several characters whom I assume are followed in the next books in the series.
The scenario? A 'zombie' apocalypse/plague. It's fairly by-the-numbers, as far as 'outbreak' fiction. The unusual aspect of this iteration of the theme is that there's an alien space elevator which appeared in the city of Darwin, Australia, about a decade ago. Now, Darwin seems to be the only location on Earth that's free of the plague.
The scenario? A 'zombie' apocalypse/plague. It's fairly by-the-numbers, as far as 'outbreak' fiction. The unusual aspect of this iteration of the theme is that there's an alien space elevator which appeared in the city of Darwin, Australia, about a decade ago. Now, Darwin seems to be the only location on Earth that's free of the plague.
November 23, 2014
After reading a great novel or series of novels, you always want more. Origin stories give you a chance to see your favourite (or not so favourite) characters again, and learn something more about the history of their world. The problem is that sometimes for me, origin stories just don't work.
In the The Dire Earth, The Darwin Elevator is already in place in Australia, but the next mystery from the strange alien Builders has arrived: the disease called SUBS. The disease strips the humanity from its victims, reducing them to a basic fight or flight animalistic existence. The only place safe from the disease is Darwin, and in this novella, we see the world come to that realization. We get to see Skylar, Skadz, Sam, Nigel, Russell, and more again, as they all deal with the end of the world, right as it is happening.
The thing is, while I really loved being able to see the characters again, the story didn't really give me anything new. There were details that I did not know of how each person got to Darwin or discovered their immunity to SUBS, but having already read the series, the details were not particularly relevant for me. I had figured out or imagined the basics of how and why, so having it all spelled out, as I said, simply didn't add anything to the lore that I hadn't already figured out on my own.
That's not to say this is a bad short story. As it is an introduction to Hough's Dire Earth series, this would be a great way for someone new to get a taste of Hough's world. In fact, I consider The Darwin Elevator to be a good starter book for people who are uncertain about science fiction. The balance between reality and science fiction is well done, with no overwhelming use of science. As it takes place on earth, with a focus on amazing characters, the science fiction aspect sits quietly just on the fringe as you slowly get sucked into the mystery of the Builders...
www.BiblioSanctum.com
In the The Dire Earth, The Darwin Elevator is already in place in Australia, but the next mystery from the strange alien Builders has arrived: the disease called SUBS. The disease strips the humanity from its victims, reducing them to a basic fight or flight animalistic existence. The only place safe from the disease is Darwin, and in this novella, we see the world come to that realization. We get to see Skylar, Skadz, Sam, Nigel, Russell, and more again, as they all deal with the end of the world, right as it is happening.
The thing is, while I really loved being able to see the characters again, the story didn't really give me anything new. There were details that I did not know of how each person got to Darwin or discovered their immunity to SUBS, but having already read the series, the details were not particularly relevant for me. I had figured out or imagined the basics of how and why, so having it all spelled out, as I said, simply didn't add anything to the lore that I hadn't already figured out on my own.
That's not to say this is a bad short story. As it is an introduction to Hough's Dire Earth series, this would be a great way for someone new to get a taste of Hough's world. In fact, I consider The Darwin Elevator to be a good starter book for people who are uncertain about science fiction. The balance between reality and science fiction is well done, with no overwhelming use of science. As it takes place on earth, with a focus on amazing characters, the science fiction aspect sits quietly just on the fringe as you slowly get sucked into the mystery of the Builders...
www.BiblioSanctum.com
May 17, 2020
This one was short and sweet ad explained what happened to humanity before the events of book 1. Also liked how it introduced all the major players of the first book as well as explained how they all ended up in Darwin.
June 4, 2018
I didn't have high hopes for this novella, since Hough's novel "Zero World" was quite a disappointment, but not only did "Dire Earth" keep my interest through-out, it made me want to reach for the series. At first, I though it was just another zombie apocalypse, but the addition of the alien elevator (not quite explained!) makes this dystopian premise a sci-fi with a lot of potential. Easy five stars.
December 13, 2015
THE DIRE EARTH is a prequel to the Darwin series (of which I've not yet read) and tells the story of an outbreak across Earth that threatens to end mankind, turning all bar a special few (at this stage a mere handful) into zombie-like beings hellbent on killing the uninfected.
Darwin, Australia, is the only place of refuge by virtue of a mass alien space elevator which seems to generate an invisible barrier around the city sprawl keeping those within the vicinity safe from the mysterious disease corrupting mankind.
While the alien structure is mentioned, there's a whole lot of backstory missing as to how it got to Darwin and where the aliens are who brought it there. Also, there is little by way of rationale behind the structures ability to prevent the disease from entering Darwin. I presume these plot threads are addressed in the series proper (this novella was published in ZERO WORLD as a 'bonus' and appears after the Darwin books) but it would've benefited the novella to at least touch upon these aspects, if only in passing as part of the broader Darwin plot design.
As far as a prequel goes, THE DIRE EARTH is okay. It introduces (what I assume to be) key characters who play a part in the novels and gives them a real three dimensional feel; each feels unique and 'real' with their own motives, strengths, and sense of self.
I've added the Darwin books to my 'watch-list' and hope to check out the first installment soon-ish to see where this is all heading.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
Darwin, Australia, is the only place of refuge by virtue of a mass alien space elevator which seems to generate an invisible barrier around the city sprawl keeping those within the vicinity safe from the mysterious disease corrupting mankind.
While the alien structure is mentioned, there's a whole lot of backstory missing as to how it got to Darwin and where the aliens are who brought it there. Also, there is little by way of rationale behind the structures ability to prevent the disease from entering Darwin. I presume these plot threads are addressed in the series proper (this novella was published in ZERO WORLD as a 'bonus' and appears after the Darwin books) but it would've benefited the novella to at least touch upon these aspects, if only in passing as part of the broader Darwin plot design.
As far as a prequel goes, THE DIRE EARTH is okay. It introduces (what I assume to be) key characters who play a part in the novels and gives them a real three dimensional feel; each feels unique and 'real' with their own motives, strengths, and sense of self.
I've added the Darwin books to my 'watch-list' and hope to check out the first installment soon-ish to see where this is all heading.
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspo...
July 31, 2017
Confused. World-wide blindingly fast epidemic somehow caused or protected by an alien space elevator in Australia. Zombies. Limited number of random immune people setup to be stars presumably in the actual series. Yeah whatever. The intro stories to the characters are pretty good, but that is offset by uninteresting world building. Not worth going out of my way to read the rest of the series without strong recommendations.
November 22, 2016
Starting with the prequel might not have been the best idea because I'm sure I missed some subtleties. Gave it 2 stars but with those last couple chapters, they held my attention, it certainly doesn't mean the series is out of contention. I'm intrigued by the potential adventures on the Melville.
September 1, 2015
Novella at the end of Zero World, really got me interested in The Darwin Elevator!
November 10, 2017
Jason M. Hough's "The Dire Earth: A Novella (The Dire Earth Cycle)" is the novella prequel to his "The Dire Earth" series of books. Foolishly, I thought the prequel would be the best place to start reading the series. Unfortunately, though the book is well-written, it's worthless as an entry point. All it does is introduce various sets of people who discover the world has ended and they have to survive. There's nothing that explains anything. I suppose if you've read the rest of the series and want an introduction to where its characters came from, this would be fine. But for those of us starting cold, it's a waste of time. Since that's the boat I'm in, I'm rating it at a Not Very Good 2 stars out of 5.
September 3, 2021
A prequel to the main series, this tells the story of what happened to Skyler Luiken during the beginning of the plague. We meet Skadz nearly right away, and then Samantha’s story unfolds with her discovery of plague-infected people she knew.
We then shift to Nigel Proctor going about his business on the last day of normalcy in Australia, which changes as abruptly as his name. And then on to Russell Blackfield, in trouble with a senior officer…. Soon Jake is brought into the story and we have a team of four “immunes.”
This is a good introduction to the main characters you will encounter in the Dire Earth Cycle. I have read the first 3 books and went back to read this novella when I found out about it. I’m glad I did.
We then shift to Nigel Proctor going about his business on the last day of normalcy in Australia, which changes as abruptly as his name. And then on to Russell Blackfield, in trouble with a senior officer…. Soon Jake is brought into the story and we have a team of four “immunes.”
This is a good introduction to the main characters you will encounter in the Dire Earth Cycle. I have read the first 3 books and went back to read this novella when I found out about it. I’m glad I did.
December 12, 2017
This novella is the prequel to The Darwin Elevator. It details the events of the plague that struck the world, which turns most humans into feral creatures if they do not immediately die. We are also shown how each of the protagonists in the novel, who are the few immune to the disease, come to Darwin, Australia, location of the space elevator created by the alien Builders. The Darwin Elevator exudes an aura that is the only thing that keeps non-immune humans from getting the fatal illness, which appears to have originated from the Builders as well, so it is where the remnants of humanity congregate to survive.
August 2, 2017
It was OK, but smacked too much of other end-of-world stories via plague and zombies. I thought there would be more science fiction, given that this is a prequel to his series "Darwin Elevator", which features an elevator placed on earth by space aliens.
I don't think we'll read that series, although the 4th book sounds seriously interesting and more what we like. It verges away from the first 3 books in the series and can be read as a standalone.
We had just read his Zero World and loved it, so this was quite the come-down for us. It's not a bad read; just not what we like.
I don't think we'll read that series, although the 4th book sounds seriously interesting and more what we like. It verges away from the first 3 books in the series and can be read as a standalone.
We had just read his Zero World and loved it, so this was quite the come-down for us. It's not a bad read; just not what we like.
April 13, 2023
I dont know how i came across this but i borrowed the ebook from my local library, downloaded to my Kindle. It was an interesting introduction to the series. This was the 1st DE book i read, it intrigued me enough to want to read the series. I was a little disappointed there wasnt more background on the Elevator or the Aliens, how they came to earth, etc, I'm assuming that happens in the following books. The characters are an interesting bunch. This would make a good series on Netflix or some other streaming platform.
June 9, 2017
Secret origins issue
This novella was written as a prequel to the Dire Earth trilogy and is perhaps best read after the first book of that trilogy, The Darwin Elevator. It tells of the outbreak of the SUBS plague and how Skyler, Skadz, Sam, and Jake came to Darwin and got together. It also gives backstory for Prumble and even Russell. So it's an interesting supplement to TDE but not much more.
This novella was written as a prequel to the Dire Earth trilogy and is perhaps best read after the first book of that trilogy, The Darwin Elevator. It tells of the outbreak of the SUBS plague and how Skyler, Skadz, Sam, and Jake came to Darwin and got together. It also gives backstory for Prumble and even Russell. So it's an interesting supplement to TDE but not much more.
February 19, 2018
This will be short and sweet as there's not a lot to say other than this was a great way to revisit the great characters and world that Jason Hough built in the Dire Earth Cycle series. This novella is a prequel, origin-story of sorts, of our favourite characters. If yoiu loved the Dire Earth series, you'll love this quick book. Nuff sed!
March 24, 2022
Took awhile to get through this. Something about this author's writing style just doesn't flow for me. Often I have to go back and reread some sentences to make sense of it. The story itself is a pretty decent set up, but same thing where it gets bogged down in weird details and ignores basic conversations people would have in this.
February 18, 2018
I liked this a lot. I have not read the Dire Earth series yet, and this was a nice introduction to the world. Good characters, hard situation, tough struggles ahead. Good stuff. Looking forward to book one. BTW, I read this in the back of Zero World, not as an Ebook.
June 12, 2017
Good read to tell if you want to move ahead with the series.
Interesting premise reasonably delivered story line. I am going to read the first of the series.
Interesting premise reasonably delivered story line. I am going to read the first of the series.
May 29, 2018
Not a zombie fan at all hence the one star
December 31, 2018
Probably the best in the series I have read. Wasn’t perfect but it told an interesting story about how the disease started and how some of the characters got together in the first place.
February 28, 2021
Yeah, I really don't like dystopia settings.
March 3, 2017
A good little Novella It is obviously just a way to set up the characters and their backgrounds before the three book series begins. Well written and descriptive.
September 29, 2015
“The Dire Earth” novella was published in 2014 and was written by Jason M. Hough (http://www.jasonhough.com). Mr. Hough has published five books and novellas.
I obtained a galley of this novella for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novella as ‘PG’ as there are instances of Violence. This Science Fiction Thriller novel is set in a near future. An alien ship has arrived and there is now a space elevator from Darwin, Australia to a space station near the alien artifact.
The world suddenly is turned upside down. A disease of some kind sweeps the globe. Those who have caught it just die, or worse, they turn into near animals with the only drive to kill those not yet infected. The story follows a handful of people who find that they are immune. They all make their way to Darwin and take up with the few human survivors living there. For some reason, the space elevator is holding back the strange plague.
This was only a 3 hour read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a prequel to another of Hough’s novels, “The Darwin Elevator”. Reading the novella encourages me to follow up with that novel as the story line was very interesting. This novella was included with the eBook “Zero World” that I have reviewed separately. I give this novella a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...).
I obtained a galley of this novella for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I would categorize this novella as ‘PG’ as there are instances of Violence. This Science Fiction Thriller novel is set in a near future. An alien ship has arrived and there is now a space elevator from Darwin, Australia to a space station near the alien artifact.
The world suddenly is turned upside down. A disease of some kind sweeps the globe. Those who have caught it just die, or worse, they turn into near animals with the only drive to kill those not yet infected. The story follows a handful of people who find that they are immune. They all make their way to Darwin and take up with the few human survivors living there. For some reason, the space elevator is holding back the strange plague.
This was only a 3 hour read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a prequel to another of Hough’s novels, “The Darwin Elevator”. Reading the novella encourages me to follow up with that novel as the story line was very interesting. This novella was included with the eBook “Zero World” that I have reviewed separately. I give this novella a 5 out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...).
October 10, 2015
A novella prequel to Hough's The Darwin Elevator. It's appended to the novel Zero World.
I actually liked this slightly better than Darwin Elevator simply because I have lesser expectations of novellas. In shorter works these days you don't really expect everything to be answered and tidied up. Gone are the days when authors would create an entire world, complete characters and an interesting plot in a story with a proper beginning, middle and end. Now they're more tone pieces or character sketches or slice of life tales.
Like most prequels, this doesn't really need to exist. It's not all that important to know how everyone got to Darwin or how they met each other. However, the fact that this information exists here means that it's probably never answered in the Dire Earth trilogy. (Unless Hough is pulling a Star Wars prequel on us.)
It's fine, I just feel the total is somehow less than the sum of the parts.
For some reason I want to just read more about Skyler's purloined air force cargo jet, the Melville rather than anything else. Maybe I'm missing Firefly too much.
I actually liked this slightly better than Darwin Elevator simply because I have lesser expectations of novellas. In shorter works these days you don't really expect everything to be answered and tidied up. Gone are the days when authors would create an entire world, complete characters and an interesting plot in a story with a proper beginning, middle and end. Now they're more tone pieces or character sketches or slice of life tales.
Like most prequels, this doesn't really need to exist. It's not all that important to know how everyone got to Darwin or how they met each other. However, the fact that this information exists here means that it's probably never answered in the Dire Earth trilogy. (Unless Hough is pulling a Star Wars prequel on us.)
It's fine, I just feel the total is somehow less than the sum of the parts.
For some reason I want to just read more about Skyler's purloined air force cargo jet, the Melville rather than anything else. Maybe I'm missing Firefly too much.
November 21, 2014
Anyone who’s familiar with Jason M. Hough’s debut trilogy will, I hope, have been as excited for this novella as I was – and hopefully also found the payoff as satisfying. For anyone who hasn’t yet read those novels, well, here is an excellent starting point.
For myself, I really enjoyed revisiting this world, and getting a look at some of the trilogy’s lead characters as they were pre-apocalypse. In some cases, the faces were all too familiar (I’m looking at you Russell Scumbag Blackfield), though there was the welcome addition of the origins of Prumble, who reminded me all over again why I liked him in the books. Then there’s Jake. I miss Jake.
*Stops self right there before the pouting begins*
So! Yes. This is a tightly written, action-packed novella, and a pleasant, however brief (perhaps a little too abruptly ended, but that’s a nitpick) return to one of my favourite series of the last couple of years. If you’re still in Camp Haven’t Read It Yet, do yourself a favour and check it out. Whether you start with this novella or do as I did and read it last, it is undoubtedly worth a look.
For myself, I really enjoyed revisiting this world, and getting a look at some of the trilogy’s lead characters as they were pre-apocalypse. In some cases, the faces were all too familiar (I’m looking at you Russell Scumbag Blackfield), though there was the welcome addition of the origins of Prumble, who reminded me all over again why I liked him in the books. Then there’s Jake. I miss Jake.
*Stops self right there before the pouting begins*
So! Yes. This is a tightly written, action-packed novella, and a pleasant, however brief (perhaps a little too abruptly ended, but that’s a nitpick) return to one of my favourite series of the last couple of years. If you’re still in Camp Haven’t Read It Yet, do yourself a favour and check it out. Whether you start with this novella or do as I did and read it last, it is undoubtedly worth a look.
April 5, 2016
Super awesome read! Several different POVs, each just as entertaining as the next (which is rare these days). My interest is piqued on the series and I will continue on to the next book. The author is great at describing things, but some scenes have discrepancies which caused me to pause and develop a small level of confusion. For example, one sentence says there was bodies lying outside the warehouse, the next says one of those bodies was staring blankly at the ceiling. However the body could not have been staring at the ceiling for it was lying outside under the sky. There were several instances of these minor mess up and is why I took a star away. Otherwise it was a perfect and entertaining read. I really enjoyed how all the characters came together at the end as well.
March 23, 2016
This book starts the series off on a promising note. Iike the future tech mixed with apocalypse scenario. Not terribly imaginative on the future tech but plenty plausible, which is good and keeps a decent belief factor. The constant switching between characters makes it hard to really get into this story because it's difficult to identify who I'm supposed to care about, so this short story tended to be a bit of a chore to read despite a compelling and action packed plot. We'll see how the rest of the series plays out.
May 29, 2016
This novella was included at the end of Jason Hough's newest book Zero World. (I loved Zero World). I am a bit burned out on zombie type themes but this was an exciting fast read. Hough introduces you to a cast of characters that people his Dire Earth trilogy and he hooks you completely. I couldn't wait to get the first of the 3 books, Darwin Elevator. If you like science fiction you won't want to pass this series by.
September 29, 2015
This novella was at the end of the Zero World book that I won from Goodreads. I thought I'd give this a read since I enjoyed Zero World so much. I'm very glad I decided to read this it was a very fast and entertaining that will make you want to read the trilogy that this is the prequel to. If you like dystopian/ zombie like books you'll love this one, great jumping off point for a series.
October 22, 2015
I received an ARC of "Zero World" at 2015 San Diego Comic Con and this novella was at the back. I have been remiss and still have not read "Darwin Elevator" though it has been on my shelf for an embarrassingly long time at this point. Perhaps if I'd read that book I'd have enjoyed this one more. It felt so disjointed and choppy though, it was hard for me to get into it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews